Device and method for transferring unbundled network elements between local exchange carriers

ABSTRACT

A method is provided for transferring service from a first local exchange carrier. The method includes connecting an interface of a second local exchange carrier to a distribution frame of the first local exchange carrier. The interface and a first switch of the first local exchange carrier each physically connect to at least one common terminal of the distribution frame. The method also includes disconnecting the first switch from the common terminal of the distribution frame.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application is a continuation of pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/901,111, filed Jul. 10, 2001, entitled “Deviceand Method for Transferring Unbundled Network Elements Between LocalExchange Carriers”, which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/056,769, filed on Apr. 8, 1998, issued Oct. 9, 2001 as U.S.Pat. No. 6,301,351, and entitled “Device and Method for TransferringUnbundled Network Elements Between Local Exchange Carriers”, thedisclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a device and method forswitching unbundled network elements (UNEs), and particularly the localloop, from one local exchange carrier (LEC) to another competing localexchange carrier. More particularly, the present invention relates totransferring local loops between different LECs without the need toschedule and/or coordinate the transfer.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] A typical LEC arrangement is shown in FIG. 1. The LEC centraloffice 500 has a switch 506 with terminating office equipment on thedistribution frame (DF) 508. The connection typically includes (1) adirect connection between switch 506 and its appropriate connection inthe office equipment (OE) side of DF 508, (2) a cross-connect 520 passesthrough DF 508 (as shown by the dotted line) and connects to the cableand pair side of DF 508 at connection 510, and (3) a wire connectsconnection 510 of the cable and pair connector side of the DF 508 with asubscriber's telephone equipment. As known in the art, switch 506 doesnot communicate with the subscriber's telephone equipment unless crossconnect 520 connects switch 506 with connector 510.

[0006] Current FCC regulations require LECs to lease UNEs to othercompeting LECs. To conform with these regulations, a selling LEC mustpermit a purchasing LEC to access DF 508 at selling LEC central office500. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 2, before transfer, a purchasing LECsets up its own off-site switch 530, and a point of interface 504 atselling LEC central office 500. Purchasing LEC interface 504 hasterminating office equipment on the OE side of DF 508; however, thecross connect 522 is “tied off”, i.e., wire 522 is not physicallyconnected to connector 510, such that purchasing LEC switch 530 cannotcommunicate with the subscriber's telephone equipment.

[0007] The above “tie-off” is due to the limitation that the local loopcan only accommodate one switch at a time. Accordingly, to transferservice, a technician must physically disconnect cross connect 520 fromconnector 510 of DF 508 to disconnect the selling LEC, and physicallyconnect cross connect 522 to connector 510 to connect purchasing LECswitch 530 (through interface 504).

[0008] Under FCC regulations, a subscriber's service can only bedisconnected from a switch for a limited time. As a result, thepurchasing LEC must set an appointment with the selling LEC for a frameattendant to reconnect the wires and transfer control of the local loopwithin that allocated time.

[0009] This process requires a frame attendant to travel to DF 508 andbe present at the scheduled time. In theory, the purchasing LEC willcommunicate with the frame attendant to indicate readiness for transfer.The frame attendant then unplugs cross connect 520 to disconnect sellingLEC switch 506 from the subscriber's telephone equipment, and plugscross connect 522 in to connect purchasing LEC switch 530, as shown inFIG. 3. The purchasing LEC then does the necessary work and tests toconfirm a proper connection. If complications prevent proper transferwithin the allotted time, the frame attendant unplugs cross connect 522to disconnect purchasing LEC switch 530 and re-plugs cross connect 520in to reconnect selling LEC switch 506 (essentially returning the systemto the orientation shown in FIG. 2). The purchasing LEC must then makeanother appointment to attempt transfer, and attempt to fix the problembefore that time.

[0010] As seen by the above, transfer between LECs is based on theavailability of the frame attendant, as the frame attendant must bephysically present at the DF during the entire transfer period. Thisrequires considerable coordination between the frame attendant and thepurchasing LEC, plus labor expenses for the frame attendant's time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] It is accordingly an object of the present invention to overcomethe drawbacks of the prior art.

[0012] It is accordingly a further object of the invention to transfercontrol of a local loop between LEC's without requiring the presence of,or incurring the expense associated with, a frame attendant.

[0013] It is accordingly a further object of the invention to providethe purchasing LEC with greater control over the transfer of service.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided amethod for transferring service from a first local exchange carrier to asecond local exchange carrier. The first local exchange carrier connectsto a distribution frame through a first switch, and the first switch iscontrolled by a control system. An interface is placed in proximity tothe distribution frame. The second local exchange carrier is connectedto the interface through a second switch. A connection from the firstswitch is overlapped to the distribution frame with the interface. Thesecond local exchange carrier requests the control system to disconnectthe first switch to thereby disconnect the first local exchange carrierfrom the distribution frame. The second local exchange carrier connectsthe interface to thereby connect the second local exchange carrier tothe distribution frame.

[0015] According to a feature of the above embodiment, the second localexchange carrier confirms that the interface and second switch areproperly connected with the distribution frame and subscriber'sequipment attached thereto.

[0016] According to another feature of the above embodiment, the secondlocal exchange carrier requests the control system to reconnect thefirst switch to the distribution frame in response to failure duringconfirmation of at least one of the interface and second switch toproperly connect with the distribution frame.

[0017] According to yet another feature of the above embodiment, therequest includes the second local exchange carrier providing at leastone code to the control system, including at least an authorizationcode, checking whether the first switch and the distribution frame areconnected; and disconnecting the first switch when the checkingindicates that the first switch is connected to the distribution frame.

[0018] According to still another feature of the above embodiment, theconnection between the first switch and the distribution frame isremoved.

[0019] According to another embodiment of the invention, there isprovided a method for transferring service of a distribution frame froma first switch of a first local exchange carrier to a second switch of asecond local exchange carrier, where connections from the first switch,and an interface connected to the second switch, overlap into a commonjack of the distribution frame. The second local exchange carriercontacts a control system which controls the first switch. The controlsystem requests at least one code. The second local exchange carrierprovides the at least one code. The control system checks the at leastone code and permits further operations if the at least one code isvalid. The control system checks to determine a status of the firstswitch. The control system disconnects the first switch if the firstswitch is connected to the distribution frame, whereupon the secondlocal exchange carrier connects the interface to the distribution frame.The control system connects the first switch to the distribution frameif the first switch is disconnected from the distribution frame.

[0020] According to a feature of the above embodiment, connectionsbetween the first switch and at least the common jack are removed.

[0021] According to another feature of the above embodiment, if thefirst switch is disconnected, the second local exchange carrierdisconnects at least one of the interface and the second switch beforethe control system connects the first switch.

[0022] According to yet another embodiment of the invention, a systemfor transferring service between first and second local exchangecarriers is provided, and includes a distribution frame. A first switchis connected to the first local exchange carrier and a second switch isconnected to the second local exchange carrier. The first switch isconnected to a common connector of the distribution frame, and thesecond switch is connected to the common connector through an interface.A control mechanism controls the first switch, and includes a mechanismfor one of disconnecting and connecting the first switch in response toa request from the second local exchange carrier. The second localexchange carrier includes a connecting mechanism which connects thesecond switch to the distribution frame through the interface inresponse to the first switch being disconnected, and which disconnectsat least one of the interface and the second switch before the controlmeans connects the first switch.

[0023] According to a feature of the above embodiment, the controlmechanism includes a mechanism which receives an authorization code fromthe second local exchange carrier to permit the second local exchangecarrier access to the mechanism for one of disconnecting and connecting.

[0024] According to a feature of each of the above embodiments, thecontrol mechanism/system includes an interactive voice response systemto interface with the second local exchange carrier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The present invention is further described in the detaileddescription which follows, in reference to the noted plurality ofdrawings by way of non-limiting examples of preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, in which like reference numerals represent similarparts through the several views of the drawings.

[0026]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a local loop at a selling LEC'scentral office;

[0027]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the connections set up by apurchasing LEC before transfer of service;

[0028]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the connections of FIG. 2 afterservice is transferred;

[0029]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of theinvention;

[0030]FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the preferred call flow diagram totransfer service between LECs; and

[0031]FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] A schematic diagram of the configuration of the system to effectLEC transfer according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 4. Asshown therein, a purchasing LEC installs a remote purchasing LEC switch130, and a purchasing LEC interface 104 at a selling LEC central office100. Switch 130 is connected to the purchasing LEC operation systemstation (OSS) 102. Following installation, a frame attendant for theselling LEC “half-taps” the purchasing LEC interface 104 with theconnection from a selling LEC switch 106 into the same connector jack110 of the cable and pair side of an DF 108, i.e., cross connects 120and 122 from both selling LEC switch 106 and purchasing LEC interface104 overlap and connect with the same terminals of jack 110. In thealternative, the purchasing LEC can “half-tap” cross connects 120 and122 during the initial installation of interface 104.

[0033] Before transfer, purchasing LEC switch 130 (and/or interface 104)is inactive. Thus, although both switch 106 and interface 104 physicallyconnect to the same terminals of jack 110, the subscriber's telephoneequipment only remains in active communication with selling LEC switch106.

[0034] When the purchasing LEC OSS 102 is ready to commence transfer, itcontacts a selling LEC OSS 112, which controls selling LEC switch 106,over an appropriate medium (e.g., telephone, direct connection,Internet, intranet, etc.) to issue an appropriate deactivation request.Selling LEC OSS 112 responds by disconnected selling LEC switch 106 fromDF 108 (e.g., turning selling LEC switch 106 OFF, disabling acommunication relay, etc.).

[0035] The purchasing LEC then issues an appropriate activation commandto connect purchasing LEC switch 130 (e.g., turn switch 130 or interface104 ON, activate an appropriate relay, etc.). Staff at the purchasingLEC then initiate the necessary work and tests to confirm a properconnection with DF 108 and the subscriber's telephone equipment.

[0036] If complications prevent the purchasing LEC from establishing aproper connection within the allocated time period, then purchasing LECdisconnects purchasing LEC switch 130 and/or purchasing interface 104,and requests selling LEC OSS 112 to reconnect selling LEC switch 106.Purchasing LEC can then attempt to correct the problem and reestablish aproper connection at its convenience.

[0037] Once the connection is established, the “dead” connectionsbetween selling LEC switch 106 and DF 108 can be removed by a frameattendant at his convenience.

[0038] As can be seen by the above, the purchasing LEC can connect withDF 108 of a selling LEC without the presence of a frame attendant. Byplacing the purchasing LEC in total control of the transfer of service,the need for coordinating phone calls and/or to schedule personnel iseliminated. Since the frame attendant can make any necessary connectionsand/or remove wires collaterally with other services at DF 108, thecosts associated with this specialized service of the frame attendantare eliminated. Further, the purchasing LEC does not need to continuallyschedule transfer times to try to overcome complications in previousattempts to establish a proper connection. Thus, not only does thetransfer process take less time, the costs associated with the frameattendant are substantially reduced.

[0039] Although many ways exist for purchasing LEC OSS 102 tocommunicate with selling LEC OSS 112, a preferred interactive voiceresponse system with a graphical user interface set up by the sellingLEC is shown in FIG. 5. At step S2, the system provides a greeting toconfirm that the purchasing LEC has connected with selling LEC OSS 112.The system then requests entry of an identification code at step S4,which is checked at step S6. If the code is invalid, then controlreturns to step S4 to request a different code. If desired, the systemmay provide an “incorrect access code” message, and/or cut the user offif a correct code is not entered within a certain number of attempts.

[0040] If the code is valid, then the system requests a purchase code,which corresponds to the particular transfer and/or time for transfer,at step S8. The code is checked at step S10. If the code is invalid,then control returns to step S8 to request a different code. If desired,the system may provide an “incorrect purchasing code” message, and/orcut the user off if a correct code is not entered within a certainnumber of attempts.

[0041] If the purchase code is accurate, then the system requestsconfirmation to proceed at step S12. This is primarily a customerservice break, in that it provides a convenient step for the purchasingLEC to obtain information about the subscribers that the servicetransfer will affect, or to abort the process. If the purchasing LECelects to proceed with the transfer, then control passes to step S14 todetermine whether selling LEC switch 106 is connected or disconnected toDF 108.

[0042] If connected, then selling LEC OSS 112 initiates the necessaryprocedures to disconnect selling LEC switch 106 at step S16. The systemprovides a message saying that disconnection is in progress (orcomplete) at step S18. A closing “thank you” message is provided at stepS20.

[0043] If disconnected (typically only if the purchasing LEC previouslydisconnected the switch), then the system indicates that the switch isdisconnected at step S22, and requests authorization to reconnect theswitch at step 24. If reconnection is authorized, selling LEC OSS 112then initiates the necessary procedures to reconnect selling LEC switch106 at step S26. The system provides a message saying that reconnectionis in progress (or complete) at step S28, followed by the closingmessage at step S20.

[0044] Although not detailed herein, each of the above steps may provideadditional customer service options, including returning to a main menuor requesting to speak to a customer service representative.

[0045] By proceeding through the above steps S2-S20, a purchasing LECcan transfer service with minimal interaction with employees of theselling LEC and/or with a frame attendant. If the transfer is initiallyunsuccessful, then the purchasing LEC OSS 102 can relink with theselling LEC OSS 112 to execute steps S2-S14 and S22-S28 to returncontrol to the selling LEC until the problem is corrected, again withminimal interaction with employees of the selling LEC and/or a frameattendant.

[0046] In the above embodiment, the half-tap is positioned through crossconnects 120 and 122 to connection jack 110 on the cable and pair sideof DF 108. However, other orientations of the half-tap upstream fromconnection jack 110 are possible. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, thewires can overlap at the office equipment DF 108, thus only requiring asingle wire on the cable and pair side.

[0047] While the invention has been described with reference to severalexemplary embodiments, it is understood that the words which have beenused herein are words of description and illustration, rather than wordsof limitations. Changes may be made, within the purview of the pendingclaims, without effecting the scope and spirit of the invention and itsaspects. While the invention has been described here with reference toparticular means, materials and embodiments, the invention is notintended to be limited to the particular disclosed herein; rather, theinvention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods anduses, such at all within the scope of the appended claims.

[0048] By way of non-limiting example, a purchasing LEC can stayconnected with the selling LEC at step S18 until transfer is confirmed;if a proper connection cannot be established, then the purchasing LECcan return to steps S4 or S8 to initiate a reconnection procedure.Similarly, a purchasing LEC can stay connected with the selling LEC OSS112 at step S26 until any complications are overcome, and then return tosteps S4 or S8 to restart the transfer.

[0049] Further, modifications to the above protocols, and thesoftware/hardware for carrying out the same, are well within the skillin the art and fall within the scope and spirit of the presentinvention.

[0050] Still further, the automated protocol of the preferred embodimentis interactive voice response, in which the system provides audiomessages to the second local exchange carrier and information (e.g.,codes, option selection) is entered by telephone keypad. However, thesystem may also be computer based, in which the messages and/or optionsare displayed on a monitor and information is entered through ancomputer peripheral, e.g., keyboard and/or mouse.

What is claimed:
 1. A method for transferring service from a first localexchange carrier, the method comprising: connecting an interface of asecond local exchange carrier to a distribution frame of the first localexchange carrier, the interface and a first switch of the first localexchange carrier each physically connecting to at least one commonterminal of the distribution frame; and disconnecting the first switchfrom the common terminal of the distribution frame.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising connecting a second switch of the secondlocal exchange carrier to the interface.
 3. The method of claim 2,further comprising activating the connection of the second switch of thesecond local exchange carrier to the interface to connect the secondlocal exchange carrier to the common terminal of the distribution frame.4. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating the connectionof the interface of the second local exchange carrier to the commonterminal of the distribution frame.
 5. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising receiving a request to reconnect the first switch to thecommon terminal of the distribution frame in response to determiningthat a second switch of the second local exchange carrier is notproperly connected with the distribution frame through the interface. 6.The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a request,including at least one authorization code, to disconnect the firstswitch from the distribution frame.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereinthe connection between the interface and the distribution frame and theconnection between the first switch and the distribution frame to atleast one common terminal are connections to at least one commonterminal of a jack of the distribution frame.
 8. The method of claim 7,wherein the connection between the interface and the distribution framefurther comprises a first cross connect and the connection between thefirst switch and the distribution frame further comprises a second crossconnect.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein a first side of thedistribution frame further comprises a cable and pair side, and whereina second side of the distribution frame further comprises an officeequipment side.
 10. A method for transferring service of a distributionframe from a first switch of a first local exchange carrier, where thefirst switch is physically connected to a terminal of the distributionframe, the method comprising: connecting an interface of a second localexchange carrier to the terminal of the distribution frame in commonwith the connection of the first switch and the terminal of thedistribution frame; and disconnecting the first switch from the commonterminal in response to receiving a message that includes at least onevalid authorization code from the second local exchange carrier.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, wherein when the first switch is disconnected, atleast one of the interface and a second switch of the second localexchange carrier connected to the interface are disconnected before thefirst switch is reconnected.
 12. A system for transferring service froma first local exchange carrier, comprising: a distribution frame havinga common connector connected to a second switch of a second localexchange carrier through an interface of the second local exchangecarrier; a first switch of the first local exchange carrier connected tothe common connector of the distribution frame; and a controller thatdisconnects the first switch from the distribution frame.
 13. The systemof claim 12, wherein the controller comprises a receiver that receivesan authorization code from the second local exchange carrier to permitsaid second local exchange carrier to request disconnection of the firstswitch from the distribution frame.
 14. The system of claim 12, whereinthe controller includes an interactive voice response system tointerface with the second local exchange carrier.
 15. The system ofclaim 12, in which the common connecter is on an office equipment sideof the distribution frame.
 16. The system of claim 12, in which thecommon connecter is on a cable and pair side of the distribution frame.17. The method of claim 6, in which the request is received using aninteractive voice response system.
 18. The method of claim 10, in whichthe message received from the second local exchange carrier is receivedusing an interactive voice response system.